A Lagos State High Court has sentenced truck driver Okpara Kingsley Onyekachi to life imprisonment for the death of a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) marshal, officials said on Thursday.
The court convicted him of involuntary manslaughter for the incident that occurred in Orile Iganmu, Lagos State.
The Federal Road Safety Corps is Nigeria’s statutory agency responsible for road safety administration, traffic management and enforcement on federal highways.
Highways across Nigeria have seen significant enforcement activity as the agency works to reduce road traffic crashes and fatalities through patrols and regulatory compliance measures.
The case was heard at the Lagos State High Court, TBS Division, after prosecution of a fatal road crash that claimed the life of a deputy chief road marshal during a routine traffic enforcement.
According to the FRSC, the incident occurred on November 16, 2023, when the FRSC patrol team was conducting a routine traffic enforcement operation and had stopped a mini truck for inspection.
Investigations revealed that Okpara Kingsley Onyekachi, while driving a 40‑feet container‑laden truck at excessive speed, failed to exercise due care and rammed into the stationary mini truck.
The impact fatally injured Deputy Chief Road Marshal Assistant Ajomale, who was on duty at the scene.
The high court found the defendant’s conduct “grossly negligent, reckless and unlawful” and convicted him of involuntary manslaughter under the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
FRSC spokesperson Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide said the Corps views the judgment as a “landmark victory for justice and road safety enforcement” in Nigeria and emphasised that road users who endanger lives through reckless driving can expect severe consequences.
FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed said the agency will continue to pursue justice for fallen officers and support enforcement and prosecution measures to curb dangerous driving behaviours.
The life sentence demonstrates the Nigerian judiciary’s application of existing criminal law to cases of fatal road traffic incidents involving reckless conduct.
It underscores legal accountability for road users and may reinforce efforts by road‑safety institutions to encourage compliance with traffic regulations.
Road safety authorities routinely highlight the role of enforcement and prosecution in reducing crashes and fatalities, as speeding and other serious traffic violations remain key contributors to road traffic deaths nationwide.
